Former Missouri House Speaker, Republican John Diehl, pleads guilty to federal wire fraud charge
John Diehl during his time in the Missouri House of Representatives (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)
John Diehl, a former speaker of the Missouri House who was forced to resign in disgrace in 2015 when it was revealed he’d been sending sexually inappropriate text messages to an intern, pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal wire fraud charge.
Diehl, a Republican from Town and Country, was released on his own recognizance Thursday pending a Dec. 19 sentencing hearing.
Federal prosecutors say Diehl admitted to applying for a loan through a federal program designed to help struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and using the money to make payments on a Tesla, an Audi and a Jeep, along with pool maintenance, country-club dues, mortgage bills and college tuition for a family member.
All total, Diehl admitted to defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration out of $379,900.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. Diehl’s attorney said Thursday that his client has repaid the loan proceeds to the United States Treasury.
Diehl was arguably the state’s most powerful politician in 2015 when the Kansas City Star revealed he’d been sending sexually inappropriate messages to a 19-year-old House intern. While he initially refused to step down, he eventually resigned when it became clear he’d lost the support of key members of his party.
After his political career ended, he laid low for years before reemerging in 2018 to advocate for a company he co-owned that was hoping to mine cobalt in the Bootheel.
He later became embroiled in controversy in Independence, when the FBI began scrutinizing a contract to demolish the power plant in Missouri City owned by Independence Power & Light. Diehl was attorney for the company that won the contract despite bidding twice as much as the other company seeking the job.
A federal grand jury issued subpoenas to Independence to obtain a number of records related to the two utility deals, including minutes to private meetings held by the Independence City Council where the transactions were discussed. Additionally, numerous city officials were interviewed by federal law enforcement.
A Kansas City businessman named Joseph Campbell who was connected to the utility contract testified under oath that the FBI questioned him about Diehl, whom he accused of trying to create a fake attorney-client relationship in order to keep from having to hand over certain documents the government had requested through a subpoena.
Through an attorney, Diehl denied the accusation at the time. No criminal charges have been filed in connection to the Independence contracts.
In 2023, Diehl was fined $47,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission for allegedly misusing campaign funds.
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